SEC: Questions to be Answered in ‘09 – Eastern Division
February 24, 2009
With the 2008 football season in the rear-view mirror, avid SEC football fans are already looking forward to September when the SEC conference football teams begin their conference schedules.
2008 represented another successful year for the SEC. With four team finishing in the top 15 in the AP poll, it marked the 13th year in the last quarter of a century teams from the SEC enjoyed success on a national scale.
There were a host of questions leading into the ‘08 season.
Would the Spurrier led Gamecocks finally scratch the upper echeleon of the teams in the Eastern division?
Would this be Fulmer’s last season at the helm of the Volunteer program?
Would Tebow repeat as the Heisman trophy winner?
Now, going into 2009 with the majority of those questions answered, there are several questions that will be the subjects of discussion over this offseason.
Looking forward to 2009:
With little doubt, there will be two main talking points from the national media for 2009, both regarding Florida.
1) Will the Florida Gators win the National Championship for the 2009 season?
With the SEC celebrating its third consecutive BCS National Championship the odds-on favorite for the NCAA football crown looks to be Florida. If Florida repeats, it’ll mark their 3rd NC in the last four years.
By all indications, Florida has as good of a chance at repeating as a team like USC has in reaching that peak. They return a defense that not only is as talented as any group in the FBS, but is as experienced as well.
While they have lost a few of their play-makers that contributed to their NC run for the ‘08 season, perhaps their most important player returns to lead the offense; Tim Tebow.
2) Will Tim Tebow win his second Heisman Trophy?
With the Gators losing the talent of Percy Harvin to the NFL, they’ll be looking for a player to step into his role. But, there is no mistake, the Gator roster is filled with talent from top to bottom.
What this edition of the UF team needs is a player to take some of the pressure off of Tebow who seemingly relishes the role of carrying this team on his shoulders.
He’ll have competition for this years Heisman award, last years winner Sam Bradford likely being one who’ll find himself among the contenders, but there is substantial doubt any player in college football will have the amount of attention and expectation placed on them comparable to what Tebow will…enjoy?
3) Will 2009 mark the end of the “Ol Ball Coach’s” career?
EZ-E-GO.
Definitely not a monicker that can be used to describe Spurrier’s tenure at South Carolina but one that could very well define his life after this football season.
Once again, the Gamecock coach finds himself with the QB position at the center of attention going into the fall.
An off and on starter for two years in Columbia, Chris Smelley, decided this winter to transfer from South Carolina and finish his education at the University of Alabama. Part-time starter, Tommt Bleecher, is no longer with the team as well. This leaves the position and the attention it gathers on the shoulders of heralded Stephen Garcia.
To put a coaches career squarely in the hands of a player whose decision making skills, off the field, have been questionable at best is a risky proposition for the elder statesman of the SEC. But, this season certainly has the makings of being one that is defined by, “As the quarterback play goes, so goes the Gamecocks.”
4) What should we expect from the Richt led Georgia Bulldogs?
High expectations tend to lead to diminished results in Athens.
There is no better example than the 2008 season where the Bulldogs started the season at the top of the college football world only to find themselves finishing at the same position they’ve been in the majority of Richt’s tenure: an also-ran with Florida.
Will this team in ‘09 be the surprise it was in ‘07? That’s left to be determined. They certainly have key roles to fill with QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshown Moreno moving to the NFL.
In terms of wins and losses (their total, not against which teams) the Bulldog program has enjoyed a successful run under Richt. But, they’ve yet to reach that “championship caliber.”
Richt seems very comfortable in his role as the head coach at Georgia. But, is one more year filling the “status quo” enough to keep the Bulldog faithful happy or will we begin to hear rumblings of the Dawgs wanting more bite for their bark?
5) Will Tennessee find itself in the cellar of the East in 2009 like it did in 2008?
A new staff is in place and while that move was needed, and encouraged by the Volunteer army, the question reads “is this the right staff in place?”
The Tennessee football program had its highs and lows in 2008; a great defense and an average, at best, offense.
That trend should continue on defense in 2009 with the unit led by NFL veteran Monte Kiffin.
But, like last season, the question mark is written in bold over their offense.
They are still in need of consistent play from the QB position. But what could potentially be an even more glaring problem is what lines up in front of the QB.
The Volunteers do have the luxury of starting five seniors along the offensive line but also find themselves a few injuries away from what could be disaster. Tennessee, having only signed seven offensive lineman in the last three years, are not only woefully thin but very inexperienced.
Combine those ingredients with a new offensive scheme with a new offensive line coach and it bears asking what win total would be considered an improvement over the five wins in 2008?
6) Is anomaly now defined by Kentucky and Vanderbilt?
Seriously, if I were to tell you a team from the East could finish at the bottom of the conference and still make it to a bowl game would you have given it a second thought? Kentucky did finishing less than .500 in conference play but finished the season on a high note with a bowl win.
Or, even better, what if I would have said, “Vandy will upset not only the Auburn Tigers but beat the ACC runner-up, Boston College, in their bowl game.” Would have you laughed, scoffed, or both?
A win versus BC – Vandy in a bowl game at that – was a step forward for Bobby Johnson and the Commodores. Finishing third in the East? Astonishing.
Is is possible that we just witnessed Vandy take what seemed to be South Carolina’s rightful place as the third or fourth best team in the East?
Along with Vandy’s surprising season Rich Brooks has slowly, but steadily, brought UK back in the SEC picture.
Perhaps that’s better said with he’s brought them out of the background of the SEC picture where they can be seen, but only seldom heard.
Injuries devastated the Wildcat team in 2008. In 2009 they return as many, if not more, upperclassmen as any team in the SEC which should bode well for some competitive games for the Cats.
Projections for 2009.
It’s easy, and logical, to say Florida wins the East in ‘09. There shouldn’t be a question that the runner-up can be found in Athens. But, positions three through six?
Yet, to be answered…and probably won’t be until mid-November.
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